What's the process for an American driver to get a British driving license?

Not sure if I'm posting this in the right area (or if it would be easier to just google it myself), but was wondering if anyone had any advice on what I'm sure is a common issue.

How does someone with an American driving license go about getting a British driver's license? Do they need to do go through the whole British driving test (theory, practical, etc), or does a license just get granted to them on the assumption that the US license proves they can already drive?

You can drive on your US licence for 12 months.  After 6 months in the UK you can apply for a provisional licence.  US licence holders can't exchange their licences.  You must pass both the theory and driving tests. 

https://www.gov.uk/exchange-a-foreign-driving-licence

Thanks anonymiss....was hoping we could just somehow exchange licenses. I'm British, so i know the UK driving test is much harder than the test my American wife had to take here in NYC...I was hoping she could avoid the test if possible, but I guess not!

I'm gonna have to start teaching her to drive a manual transmission once we move over there!

She can get a licence to drive automatic transmission only .

You can drive on your US licence for 12 months.  After 6 months in the UK you can apply for a provisional licence.  US licence holders can't exchange their licences.  You must pass both the theory and driving tests. 

https://www.gov.uk/exchange-a-foreign-driving-licence

Six months before I can apply for a provisional driving license? Does that apply even on a spouse visa since I am now a resident?
 I have been here for almost 4 weeks and was going to apply for my provisional license as soon as I receive my NI number (which should be next week).............

Six months before I can apply for a provisional driving license?

I didn't think there was any restriction on when you could apply for your provisional. Am I wrong?

I got my provisional after being here for 4 and a bit months with no problems.

I'm British, so i know the UK driving test is much harder than the test my American wife had to take here in NYC.

This is what everyone tells you, but honestly, I don't think it was.  At least, it wasn't any harder for someone who's already an experienced driver.

You know what the worst, hardest part of it was?  Nerves!  And that's mainly because people bang on and on about how hard it is, and how the examiners fail you for every tiny little thing, etc. 

Even if it is a harder test, you'll do your wife no favours by telling her that.  Just concentrate on letting her get lots and lots of practice, so that she feels comfortable.  Then consider having her take a few lessons, so that she can make sure she's doing everything 'correctly.'

I didn't think there was any restriction on when you could apply for your provisional. Am I wrong?

Six months before I can apply for a provisional driving license? Does that apply even on a spouse visa since I am now a resident?
 I have been here for almost 4 weeks and was going to apply for my provisional license as soon as I receive my NI number (which should be next week).............

The above link takes you through a couple of questions to see if you can exchange your licence.  According to the GOV.UK link above you must be a resident and to be a resident you must have lived in the UK for 185 days.  The 1st question:

1 Are you a resident of Great Britain?

You're normally a resident if you have a permanent address in Great Britain that you’ve lived at for at least 185 days.

  

The above link takes you through a couple of questions to see if you can exchange your licence.  According to the GOV.UK link above you must be a resident and to be a resident you must have lived in the UK for 185 days.  The 1st question:

1 Are you a resident of Great Britain?

You're normally a resident if you have a permanent address in Great Britain that you’ve lived at for at least 185 days.

Despite what it says, there have been many people here on the forum who have applied for and received a provisional licence before they have been in the UK for 6 months.

It's not been a problem.

The wording seems slightly different now, but the website used to say that a resident was defined as someone who had permission to live in the UK for more than 185 days, not that they actually had to have already been here for 185 days. So the fact that you had a fiance or spousal visa on the settlement path was enough to show that you were a resident.

I believe the 6 month residence stipulation is mainly aimed at EEA citizens who have to be properly resident in the UK to be able to exchange a licence here... they are trying to stop them from coming to the UK, getting a UK licence and then going back to their home country.

From the booklet about new residents and driving in the UK (http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_068659.pdf):

Taking a test
To take a GB driving test, you normally have to live in Great Britain. If you have recently moved to Great Britain from another EU/EEA country, you must have lived in Great Britain for at least 185 days in the 12 months before taking the test and applying for a full driving licence.

and

Rules for exchanging your licence
You must normally live in Great Britain and have a permanent address here.
If you:
– have an EU/EEA licence
– apply for a GB driving test at the same time as exchanging your licence, and
– have moved to Great Britain after recently living in another EU/EEA country, you must have lived in Great Britain for at least 185 days in the 12 months before you apply for a full driving licence.

and

How to apply for a provisional GB driving licence
If you need to pass a GB driving test to get a full GB licence, you must first apply for a provisional driving licence. To do this you should fill in ‘Application for a driving licence’ (D1) and send it to us at DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AF with the correct fee (see section 9 of this booklet for details of how to get our forms and leaflets).

Notice there is no mention of having to live in the UK for 185 days if you want to apply for a provisional licence.

It only mentions 185 days in relation to exchanging your licence if you have moved from another EU/EEA country. People from the US with US licences cannot exchange them, so this doesn't apply to them anyway.

This is what everyone tells you, but honestly, I don't think it was.  At least, it wasn't any harder for someone who's already an experienced driver.

I'd been driving for 25 years and I thought it was much harder than the test I took in the US. Much much much harder.

Even if it is a harder test, you'll do your wife no favours by telling her that.

But I agree with this part completely! 

Ugh, I've been here over 3 years now and still haven't taken my test.  I'd been driving since I was 15 in the states.  I have a feeling that my test I took there was a bit of a joke compared to what it is like over here, it was on a closed course first of all (my husband thinks this is hilarious)! 

I have decided I want to get my license here though before we decide to have kids, I am mostly nervous about learning to drive a manual.  I know you don't have to drive manual here, but I think I might as well if I am going to be taking lessons anyway.

I think the hardest part of my lessons and test was learning things the 'right' way and unlearning some habits I'd developed since my US lessons 13 years ago. Sometimes it's harder to relearn thing you already know than learn something the first time. :-)

Despite what it says, there have been many people here on the forum who have applied for and received a provisional licence before they have been in the UK for 6 months.

It's not been a problem.

The wording seems slightly different now, but the website used to say that a resident was defined as someone who had permission to live in the UK for more than 185 days, not that they actually had to have already been here for 185 days. So the fact that you had a fiance or spousal visa on the settlement path was enough to show that you were a resident.

I believe the 6 month residence stipulation is mainly aimed at EEA citizens who have to be properly resident in the UK to be able to exchange a licence here... they are trying to stop them from coming to the UK, getting a UK licence and then going back to their home country.

From the booklet about new residents and driving in the UK (http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_068659.pdf):

and

and
Notice there is no mention of having to live in the UK for 185 days if you want to apply for a provisional licence.

It only mentions 185 days in relation to exchanging your licence if you have moved from another EU/EEA country. People from the US with US licences cannot exchange them, so this doesn't apply to them anyway.

Good to know I can get a provisional license right away! Thanks ksand 

I think the hardest part of my lessons and test was learning things the 'right' way and unlearning some habits I'd developed since my US lessons 13 years ago. Sometimes it's harder to relearn thing you already know than learn something the first time. :-)

Yes, exactly TF, if I had never driven before I would be fine driving in the UK! It is because I have all my US driving ways stuck in my head that I find it very difficult for me here behind the wheel

I think the hardest part of my lessons and test was learning things the 'right' way and unlearning some habits I'd developed since my US lessons 13 years ago. Sometimes it's harder to relearn thing you already know than learn something the first time. :-)

Yep, that was the case for me.  I had been driving for over 20 years when we moved over-and I ended up failing the driving part twice!  I was so embarrassed.  The first fail was that I didn't leave enough room between cars as I pulled onto a road, and the second fail was for going too fast and not indicating on a roundabout.